Brad Marchand has bled black and gold for nearly two decades, but as his contract winds down, the Boston Bruins face a tough call: lock in their captain or trade him for a fresh start?
A Career Built in Boston
Marchand, a 2006 third-round pick, has played over 1,000 games for the Bruins. He’s watched teammates like Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci retire as lifelong Bruins, and he’s set on joining them. After a recent practice, he made it clear: he’s always planned to stay in Boston and still feels that way. He loves being part of the team and takes pride in wearing the jersey. But at 36, in the final year of an eight-year, $49 million deal, things aren’t entirely in his hands. His agent and GM Don Sweeney have been talking about an extension. Sweeney even said Marchand is the only pending free agent likely to get a new deal, which puts other players, like Trent Frederic, on the trade block instead.
The catch? Marchand’s age and hard-hitting style raise questions about how much he has left. He’s had injuries and went through three surgeries last offseason. If no extension happens and a contending team offers big prospects, the Bruins might trade him to kickstart a roster retool. Marchand knows the team will do what’s best for the group, not just him, and he’s not sweating it.
Trade Talk and Tough Choices
The Bruins have a track record of short-term deals with older stars. Bergeron and Krejci got one-year contracts late in their careers, and Zdeno Chara signed back-to-back one-year extensions. Marchand might face the same, though it’s unclear if he’d push for more years given his physical play. He’s still producing—second on the team with 45 points—so a drop-off isn’t guaranteed. But if talks stall by March 7, a trade could happen. He’s got an eight-team no-trade list, giving him some say.
Fresh off winning the 4 Nations Face-Off in Boston, Marchand downplayed any urge to chase a Cup elsewhere. He said the short tournament didn’t compare to a playoff run and doesn’t see it as a taste of life with a stronger team. He’s all-in on the Bruins, convinced they can compete with anyone when at their best. Even as Sweeney prioritizes the future over a win-now move, Marchand believes in the current squad. For now, he’s not looking to leave—he’s betting on Boston.
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